The Bold and the Beautiful Down Under

The cast professed to have no clue as to the story line, as long-running Channel ten soap The Bold and the Beautiful announced it will film on location in Australia in February.

The stars of the popular show about feuding families in the fashion industry gathered at CBS’ Studio 31 in Los Angeles to toast the announcement with fake champagne. They then were seated on set for a celebratory lunch of meat pies, sausage rolls and lamingtons with miniature Australian and American flags as table centerpieces.

The world’s most watched soap will film in and around Sydney between February 12th and February 17th. There’s a whisper Melbourne may also feature.

Based on the show’s usual filming schedule (it surpassed 7,500 episodes in January), it’s understood producers are aiming for about six episodes.

John McCook (Eric Forrester), one of the original cast members, is thrilled to be marking the show’s 30th anniversary with a trip to Sydney.

McCook, who has never visited Australia, said, ‘It’s a wonderfully big deal. It’s another hemisphere for God’s sake. I look forward to a very luxurious flight. We’re going to be very well taken care of by Qantas.’

He insisted he had no idea what the scenes will be. ‘We haven’t seen the script yet. We have broad strokes of what we’ll be doing down there but it’s sort of gossip.’

‘Australia is so fabulous. What I always find so amazing is that everyone is so nice. You don’t feel there’s a care in the world. No worries, mate.’

Australia’s Ashley Brewer (Ivy) who joined the show in 2014 is looking for tips to share with the cast. ‘The thing is I was born and grew up in Brisbane and then lived in Melbourne for five or six years, so I’m not an expert on Sydney.’

And she has no idea how the story-line leads them to Australia. ‘I don’t know a single thing. It’s going to be news to me as well.’

Qantas will provide round-trip flights for the cast and crew. Qantas Group spokeswoman Olivia Wirth said, ‘It’s a terrific opportunity to promote Australia by featuring it in one of the most popular TV programs in the world.’

The national carrier said from previous experience and similar partnerships, such as bringing the Ellen show to Australia, it noted a spike in bookings after the shows aired.

The Bold and the Beautiful broadcasts in nearly 200 countries including Iceland, Estonia, France South Africa and Switzerland.